Winter Fishing Update: Poudre River

The weekend brought another round of snow to the canyon and into town.  Despite the snow, your chances are still good in town throughout Fort Collins. The canyon is very iced over right now with very small slivers of open water. If you want to maximize your time on the water, check out areas like the Shields Bridge, Watson Lake, or even the white water park in Fort Collins. If you are fishing early in the morning or late in the afternoon, small midge and baetis patterns suspended under a yarn indicator will be the most productive. A small #20 Pheasant Tail or #18 Two-Bit Hooker with a #18 Juju Baetis or #18-20 BTS Nymph trailing behind is one option.  Another is a #18-20 Poison Tung or #20-24 Bling Midge with a #18-22 UV Midge or #18 Biot Emerger trailing behind.  Look for deep, slow moving water as this is where the fish will tend to hold during the winter.  With the weekend forecast getting up to the high 50`s, small BWO’s and midges may start to hatch mid to late morning. If that does happen a #20-22 Eric’s Hi-Vis Midge or #22-24 Para Midge will be great imitations for those hatching bugs. Consider using Loon Biostrike Indicator Putty as a way to help locate and see your flies on the water. Be sure to have light tippet (6X-7X) as well as yarn indicators and Stanley's ice off paste for those colder mornings and evenings.  Be safe and happy fishing!